Pay-telephone.



No, 7|4,68.0'. Patented Dec. 2', I902.

C. E.' EGAN. PAY TELEPHONE.

iApg ilication filed Apr 22. 1902.;

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-SheeiH.

Patented Dec. 2, I902. C. E. EGAN.

PAY TELEPHONE.

(Application filed Apr. 22. 1902.1

' Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

m: nonms PETERS c0. mmumo" wAsl-unsfuh. u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. EGAN, OF DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA.

PAY-TELEPHONE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 714,680, dated December 2-, 1902.

Application filed April 22, 1902. Serial No. 104,209. N model-l To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. EGAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Durham, in the county of Durham and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pay Telephones, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention pertains to improvements in telephones, and relates more particularly to those in which the prepayment of a charge by the deposit of a coin is necessary before the subscriber or user can communicate with another party on the line.

The inventionwill behest understood upon reference to the annexed drawings,wherein Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the circuits employed in connection with the instrument; Fig. 2, a vertical sectional view showing the coinway and its relation to the receiver hook or arm; Fig. 3, a similar view showing the position of the parts when the central office or operator desires to return the deposited coin to the subscriber making the call; Fig. 4, a like view showing the position of the parts where the subscriber has used the telephone and the coin is about to pass into the interior of the casing or a receptacle therefor; Fig. 5, a detail showing the gravitating pawl for preventing the withdrawal of the coin; Fig. 6, a sectional view taken on the line a; at and showing certain portions of themechanism in plan, and Fig. 7 a side elevation of said mechanism.

The object of the present invention is to provide a system by which the party desiring to use the telephone will, after having called the central office by raising the hook, deposit a coin, which coin completes the talking-circuit, enabling the subscriber to talk to the party, or if the subscriber cannot be placed in communication with the desired party through the central office then the operator at the central office will return the deposited coin to the subscriber. Normally after the subscriber has finished his conversation with the party the coin will pass into the telephone to a point beyond the reach of the subscriber. The connections and circuits are such that the central ofiice will upon sending the current over the line cause the bell to ring at any instrument and at the same time complete the talking-circuit through said instrument,

down.

which circuit was normally open previous to the ringing of the bell or the making of the call. 1

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. l, the circuits will be first described.

a and 6 indicate the main lines. From the line a there extends a branch 2, which communicates with a line 3 through contacts 4 and 4 both of which are closed by the inner end of the receiver-hook A when said hook is Line 3 contains a condenser 3 and said line 3 passes to the ringer 5 and thence back through line 6 to the main line 1). Line 3 is also provided with a lateral or branch 7, which extends to a relay or electromagnet 8. The opposite terminal of the magnetic coil is connected by line 9 to the line 6. The coil 8 works in connection with a pivoted armature 10, which has connected to it an arm 11, carrying a hook 12, which, as shown in the diagram, normally holds a pivoted plate 13 in the position shown in Fig. 1. Said plate 13 is provided with a finger or arm 14, which when the armature 10 is drawn inwardly and plate 13 is released and swings outwardly by gravity comes into contact with a point or terminal 15. Said point or terminal is connected to a branch 16, which in turn is connected to a plate 17. Said plate 17 has a com- .panion'plate 18 working therewith, but normally separated therefrom. A branch 19 extends from plate 18 and connects with a line 20, which line is connected at one end to the receiver 21 and at its opposite end to a contact member or plate 22. The opposite side of the receiver is connected to the line 6 through line 23.

24 indicates the contact-plate for the coin, and said plate 24 is connected by a branch 25 to the transmitter 26, which in turn is connected to the main line a through line 27. Line 25 is likewise provided with'a branch 28, which is connected to the swinging plate 13 or the arm 14 carried thereby.

A second coil or electromagnet 29 is employed, said coil being connected to the line 2 by a branch 30, and a branch 31, terminating in a contact 32, is connected with the opposite end of coil 29. Contact 32 works in conjunction with a key 33, which in turn is connected to the line 6 by the branch 34.

The armature 35 of the coil 29 is pivoted at its upper end and has attached thereto a rod or bar 36, which normally or when the armature is standing away from the magnet projects out into the coin-slot and prevents the coin from passing to the outside of the telephone-casing.

The receiver hook-or arm A carries an insulated block or member B, which forms the support for a metallic wedge block or member O, which when the hook is elevated passes in between the spring-plates 17 and 18 and completes the circuit through said members, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

The telephone-casing D, which may be of any desired form, has secured upon its inner face a coinway comprising an inclined chute or passage E, the upper end of which is in line with a coin slot or opening formed in the upper shelf of the casing. As will be seen upon reference to Fig. 2, the coinway extends laterally from the opening formed in the casing and terminates in a vertical chute or Way F, at the lower end of which are placed the coin-contact members 22 and 24. The inner wall of the way F is cut away to permit the nose of a gravitating lever G to extend therein, the upper end of said lever being weighted, as at H, to cause the nose to drop inwardly'into the coinway. This lever, while permitting the coin to readily pass down by it, absolutely precludes the withdrawal of a coin by a string or the like after it has once been deposited. After passing down the way F the coin rests upon the upper side of the receiver-hook A. The upper side of said hook A is formed with a bevel I, which inclines outwardly toward a channel or way J, leading to the outside of the machine or, more strictly speaking, is in line with an opening K, which in turn delivers the coin to a shelf or receptacle L, where it may be withdrawn by the depositor. A second way M is formed or placed upon the opposite side of the receiver-hook and is in line with an opening N, which opening delivers the coin to a box or receptacle 0. Said box or receptacle O is locked, so that access thereto may not be had except by the person holding the key.

,The end of the bar or rod 36 stands normally in the coinway J and prevents the coin from passing down to the outside receptacle or shelf L until said rod is withdrawn from the coinway, as will be more fully explained.

The receiver hook or arm A carries a cam P, the function of which is to return the pivoted plate 13 at certain times to its normal position, where it may be engaged by the hook or nose 12.

Extending up from the telephone-casing or from any suitable support is a spring-arm Q, provided with a laterally-projecting pin or finger R, which stands in line with the inclined face or cam P. As will be seen upon reference to Fig. 7, when the receiver is re-' leased from the hook the cam-face P will pass upwardly, and bear against that side of the finger R adjacent to the plate 13, thereby forcing the spring-arm away from the plate 13. Upon the downward movement of the hook when the receiver is hung up the camface will act on finger R, swinging it and arm Q inwardly and causing arm Q to swing the pivoted plate 13 back, so that the hook 12 may engage the same.

With the parts in the position shown in Fig. l and assuming that it is desired by the central office to call up the subscriber at the instrument shown the current passes in over line a, through line 2, contacts 4 and 4:, line 3, ringer 5, and thence through line 6 to main line b. The current also passes through line 7, energizes the electromaguet 8, causes the plate 13 to drop, and then passes out through line 9 to the line 6. The dropping of the plate, as before stated, completes the circuit, closing the contact between the members 14 and 15, and as the subscriber lifts the receiver from the hook the circuitis completed through the transmitter and receiver by member 0, passing in between the members 17 and 18. The talking-circuit is then over line a, line 27, transmitter 26, line 25,1ine 28, member 14, through contact 15, line 16, plate 17, member C, plate 18, lines 19 and 20, receiver 21, line 23, line 6, back to the main line b. It will thus be seen that the central office can communicate with the subscriber when desired without the deposit of a coin and that the circuit is completed through the instrument without the coin. Assuming, however, that the instrument shown is being used by the party calling rather than by the party called, the subscriber will notify the central office by lifting the receiver from the hook, which opens the contact 4*, and, as is well understood, causes the drop or signal at the central station to indicate that the subscriber is calling the central office. Upon the deposit of a coin the circuit will be completed through line Ct, line 27, transmitter 26, line 25, contact 24, the coin, contact 22, line 20, receiver 21, line 23, line 6 to line b. The central office will then call the party desired, and if said party can be had the subscriber can talk to the party after proper connections are made at the central office. The receiver-hook A will then of course be in the position shown in Fig. 2that is to say, in its elevated position,with the receiver removed-and the coin will occupy the position shown in Fig. 2; but as soon as the receiver is hung up the arm or hook will be depressed, and the coin will pass into the way M, down through opening N, and into the box 0, being prevented from taking the other course by reason of bar or rod 36 standing in its way. Should the central operator, however, not be able to reach the person desired, then by sending a current over the line and the subscriber likewise depressing the key 33 the circuit will be completed through line a, line 2, branch 30, coil or electromagnet 29, branch 31, contacts 32 and 33,

IIO

vi teiso branch 34, line 6, back to line b. By reason of the electromagnet 29 being energized the end of the bar or rod 36 will be withdrawn from out of the path of the coin, permitting it to pass down into the channel J to the outside shelf or receiver L, where it may be had by the depositor. It will thus be seen that the return of the coin is under the joint control of the central operator and the subscriber and that the coin cannot be withdrawn by the subscriber until the central office sends a current over the line and the subscriber at the sametime closes the pay-back key 33. By reason of the inclined face I the coin would naturally pass to the outside of the telephonecasing were it not for the rod 36. This is best illustrated in Fig. 4, where it will be seen that were it not for the arm 36 the coin would by reason of gravity drop down into the way J, this by reason of the point of support upon the upper side of the arm A standing to one side of the center of the coin. If the rod is withdrawn before orat the time the receiver is placed upon the hook, the coin will pass down through the channel J. the rod projects out into the way, the coin will pass to the opposite side or into the channel M when the hook is lowered.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim is.

1. In combination with a telephone-casing, a coinway or channel formed therein; a receiver-hook occupying a position atthe lower end of said channel and adapted to support a deposited coin when the hook is in its elevated position and the receiver is removed therefrom; contact members arranged at the lower end of said channel and adapted to be bridged by a deposited coin and thereby to complete the circuit through the instrument and over the main line; and means for determining the route of travel of the coin when the hook is lowered and the coin permitted to pass from between thecontacts, substantially as described.-

2. In combination with a telephone-casing, a coinway or channel formed therein; a receiver-hook occupying a position at the lower end of said channel and adapted to support a deposited coin when the hookis elevated and the receiver removed therefrom; contact members arranged at the lower end of said channel and adapted to be bridged by a deposited coin and thereby to complete the circuit through the instrument and over the main line; a pair of ways or channels located beneath the main or upper channel and leading respectively to the outside of the casing and to the interior thereof; and means controllable by the joint action of the central of fice and thesubscriber for determining the route of travel of the coin when the hook is lowered and the coin is permitted to pass from If, however,

ceiver-hook occupying a position at the lower end of said channel and adapted to support a deposited coin when the hook is raised; contact members arranged at the lower end of said channel and adapted to be bridged by a deposited coin and to thereby complete the circuit through the instrument and over the main line; a pair of diverging ways or channels located upon opposite sides of the hook, one of said channels leading to the outside of the casing; a bar or rod extending into the way or channel which leads to the outside of the machine; an electromagnet; an armature connected to said bar and normally project ing said bar out into the channel; and means for actuating the magnet, whereby the bar may be withdrawn from the channel, substantially as described.

4. In combination with atelephone-casing, a receiver-hook mounted therein; an electromagnet also mounted within the casing; an armature pivoted in front of said magnet,

said armature having attached to it a hook or arm; a pivoted plate working in conjunction with said hook and standing normally in engagement therewith; means intermediate said receiver-hook and the plate for returning the plate to a point where it will be engaged by the arm; a transmitter and receiver; a normally open circuit including said transmitter and receiver; and means carried by'said pivoted plate and the receiver-hook for completing the circuit through the telephone, substantially as described.

5. In combination with a telephone-casing, a receiver-hook mounted therein; an electromagnet or relay also mounted in the casing; a pivoted armature for said magnet; a hook carried by said armature; a gravitating pivoted plate working in conjunction with said hook and normally held in engagement there with a transmitter and a receiver; a normally open circuit connecting said transmitter and receiver with the main line; means carried by said pivoted plate for bridging one gap in the normally open circuit when the subscriberis called and said plate is released; a contact carried by the receiver-hook, said contact bridging a second gap in the normally open circuit and completing the circuit when the receiver is removed from the hook and said hook is elevated; and means interposed be tween the receiver-hook and the plate for returning the plate to its normal position when the receiver is placed upon the hook and the hook is again moved downwardly.

6. In combination with a telephone-casing, a receiver-hook mounted therein; an electromagnet also mounted in the casing; a pivoted armature for said magnet, said armature carrying a hook; a pivoted plate working in conjunction with saidhook and normally in engagementtherewith j a normally open circuit; atransmitter and a receiver; a normally open circuit including said transmitter and plate is free from engagement with its hook; ceiver-hook is moved downwardly by the re a contact member carried by the receiverplacement of the receiver thereon. hook and bridging the remaining gap in the In testimony whereof I have signed my receiver and transmitter circuit a cam carname to this specification in the presence of 5 ried by the receiver-hook; and a spring-arm two subscribing witnesses.

extending from a fixed portion of the apparatus adjacent to the pivoted plate, said arm CHARLES EGAN being provided with a finger acting in con- Witnesses: junction with the cam to return the plate to THOS. M. GORMAN,

IO its engagement with its hook when the re- VASSAR H. CAMPBELL. 

